Immigration officers rescue 11 from human traffickers

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) command in Katsina state said it had rescued 11 youths trying to cross into Niger Republic through the state.

The command’s Comptroller, Mr Mohammed Yaro, made this known in a news briefing in Katsina on Monday.

Yaro said that the youths were rescued on Saturday in Babban-Mutum forest while trying to cross the border on their way to Niger Republic and Europe.

“Our intelligent officers on patrol arrested the victims one-after-the-other on the same day at different intervals inside the bush.

‘’They came differently on commercial motorcycles and begun to walk inside the forest to find their way to Agadez, Niger Republic.

‘’They are now giving us vital information on how to arrest their traffickers,’’ he said.

According to him, five of the victims are females, while the remaining six are males between the ages of 19 and 38.

Yaro said that none of the victims was in possession of any travel document or any means of livelihood.

He said that the victims were misled by some traffickers whose business was to ferry persons across the border through illegal routes.

The comptroller urged parents and other stakeholders to intensify efforts toward curtailing the menace of illegal migration among youths in the country.

He also explained that the service would collaborate with National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enlighten the public on the dangers associated with the illegal act.